I am filming a semi-quantitative social documentary that reveals the nuanced evolution of language within bi/multilingual relationships.  The goal is to inform all of us - mono and multi-lingual, non-immigrant and immigrant - how relationships evolve (if they do) as the frequency of languages we speak evolves (if it does).

For example, "We used to speak 75% Spanish/25% English, now we speak half-half - what changed?"  

​I also hope to show that speaking two or more languages can be a fun and fascinating experience; and while it can bring clarity to relationships, it can also breed conflict.

EXAMPLES QUESTIONS ASKED IN THIS DOCUMENTARY     Click here for an interview outline.

• What % of the time did you and your partner speak Spanish (vs. English) when you first met? Was the % different? How was that % changed? 
• Can you plot the evolution of your languages over time?  e.g. 0% French at Year 1,  20% French at Year 2, but she consistently spoke 90% French for both years.
• Why has your communication language changed?
• Did having children, who go to a Chinese-speaking school, affect the language you ended up speaking in the house?
• Have other external factors - like Arab family members, Jewish communities, tropical vacations, or corporate work - changed the frequency of languages you speak with your partner?

TIMELINE
2017-2019 Interviews and data collection.
2019 Q3-Q4 Editing and graphics
2020 TBD Submission to a film/art/cultural festival

STATUS... Looking for couples willing to sit down for a 45-min video interview:

1. If you have been in a relationship with your partners for at least 6 months
2. You can speak to each other in more than 1 language (even if not very well, but learning)
3. Are interested in this data-science/social/cultural/art project... and having a coffee with me.

Please contact me now


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Header Image background: used from Dr. Janet Fitzakerley's site at the University of Duluth, Minnesota. http://www.d.umn.edu/~jfitzake/Lectures/DMED/SpeechLanguage/Index.html